DECCO Unveils DECCO Zox: A New Solution to Combat Resistance and Reduce Food Waste

With more than 90 years of expertise in the postharvest sector, DECCO has become a trusted leader in fruit and vegetable protection, pioneering innovative solutions designed to meet the unique needs of the horticultural industry. Our commitment is to provide powerful tools that enhance quality, minimize losses, and promote sustainability across the entire supply chain.

Comprehensive Strategy Against Resistance and Postharvest Losses

One of the biggest challenges in postharvest management is the development of fungicide resistance, which undermines treatment effectiveness and leads to increased product losses. To tackle this issue, DECCO has designed strategic protocols that include:

• Fungicide Rotation: Utilizing different modes of action to reduce the risk of resistance.
• Cleaning and Maintenance: Ensuring the proper cleaning of fruit, treatment solutions, and facilities.
• Adjuvant Solutions: Enhancing fungicide performance with solutions like DECCO Plus, DECCO pH, and DECCO Protect.

These protocols are customized to meet the specific needs and capabilities of each fruit and vegetable processing facility, providing optimal protection while ensuring compliance with current regulations.

The most efficient way to reduce the development of postharvest pathogens and minimize food losses is through the correct application of fungicides, always adhering to food safety regulations.

DECCO Zox: Innovation for Citrus Postharvest

As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation, we’ve developed a new solution to enhance postharvest disease control and reduce resistance: DECCO Zox. This broad-spectrum fungicide with curative action introduces a new mode of action (FRAC 11) in postharvest treatments, distinguishing it from other products on the market. Its active ingredient, azoxystrobin, inhibits the respiratory process in fungi, making it particularly effective in the early stages of pathogen development.

According to trials conducted by DECCO’s technical team, the combination of DECCO Zox and DECCO Pyr proved more effective in combating Penicillium italicum.

DECCO Zox offers a range of benefits, making it a vital tool for postharvest management of citrus fruits:

• Effective Resistance Management: Its unique mode of action inhibits fungal respiration, slowing their growth and significantly reducing the development of resistance.
• Broad-Spectrum Control: Effective against a wide variety of postharvest pathogens, including those responsible for rotting and deterioration, ensuring fresher fruit.
• Prolonged Protection: Delivers long-lasting action, maintaining the freshness and quality of citrus fruits during storage and transport, even over long distances.
• Compatibility with Mixes: When used in combination with other fungicides, DECCO Zox enhances disease control through synergy, improving effectiveness and diversifying modes of action.
• Preservation of Fruit Quality: Helps maintain the appearance, quality, and commercial value of citrus fruits, maximizing ROI by reducing postharvest disease losses and increasing overall yield.

A Response to the Needs of the Citrus Industry

The citrus market increasingly demands innovative solutions that complement existing treatments. In this context, DECCO Zox emerges as a key tool for managing resistance to fungicides like fludioxonil, imazalil, and pyrimethanil, offering an effective alternative to ensure the quality and freshness of fruit during storage and transport.

At DECCO, we remain dedicated to investing in research and development to provide cutting-edge solutions that help producers maximize the value of freshness, reduce losses, and ensure food safety at every stage of the postharvest process.